Abstract: A fiber termination assembly includes an optical fiber inserted into an optical ferrule disposed in an optical passageway of a heat conductive housing, the optical passageway providing an optical path aligned with the openings of the housing, the optical ferrule including a central bore concentrically disposed about the optical path and configured to receive a portion of a proximal end of the optical fiber therein, the optical ferrule and optical fiber secured in relation to the heat conductive housing with epoxy at a distal end of the optical ferrule, wherein the optical ferrule is transparent at a predetermined wavelength of light such that for light coupled into an input surface of the proximal end of the optical fiber at least a portion of the light propagating as cladding modes is stripped out of the optical fiber and transported to and dissipated in the heat conductive housing.

Abstract: An apparatus includes beam shearing optics situated to receive a collimated beam and to shear the collimated beam along a first direction so as to form a plurality of adjacent collimated beam portions, and homogenization optics situated to receive and homogenize the adjacent collimated beam portions along at least the first direction so as to produce a homogenized output beam. A method includes shearing a collimated beam having a beam parameter product (bpp) along an axis so as to form a plurality of sheared collimated beam portions, and arranging the sheared collimated beam portions adjacent to each other so that a line beam having a length and thickness that is formed with the light from the sheared collimated beam portions has a lower bpp associated with the line beam thickness than the bpp of the collimated beam along the axis.

Abstract: A laser marking method and system, and laser marked object are disclosed. The method includes directing a pulsed laser beam towards an object such that an interface between an oxidized layer and non-oxidized substrate is in a mark zone of the pulsed laser beam, and scanning the pulsed laser beam across the object in a predetermined pattern to create a mark having an L value of less than 40 and a surface roughness that is substantially unchanged compared to adjacent unmarked areas. The system includes a fiber laser generating amplified pulses that are directed towards a galvo-scanner and focusing optic, while the object includes an oxidized surface layer, an underlying non-oxidized substrate, and a mark having an L value of less than 40 with substantially unchanged roughness features.

Abstract: An apparatus includes beam shearing optics situated to receive a collimated beam and to shear the collimated beam along a first direction so as to form a plurality of adjacent collimated beam portions, and homogenization optics situated to receive and homogenize the adjacent collimated beam portions along at least the first direction so as to produce a homogenized output beam. A method includes shearing a collimated beam having a beam parameter product (bpp) along an axis so as to form a plurality of sheared collimated beam portions, and arranging the sheared collimated beam portions adjacent to each other so that a line beam having a length and thickness that is formed with the light from the sheared collimated beam portions has a lower bpp associated with the line beam thickness than the bpp of the collimated beam along the axis.

Abstract: A laser system can include an optical fiber having a spatial filter defined as a core extension coupled to or integrally formed in an optical fiber so as to reduce the coupling of optical radiation into a fiber cladding. Such a core extension can be formed by removing a length of the cladding from the optical fiber, leaving a portion of the core exposed at the end of the fiber. Alternatively, a core extension can be formed by coupling an end cap to the core of the optical fiber at a fiber end surface. By selecting a length of the core extension based on a beam divergence and beam diameter, radiation coupling into the fiber core can be reduced.

Abstract: A diode laser apparatus includes a plurality of spaced apart diode lasers, each of the diode lasers situated and configured to emit a diode laser beam substantially parallel to each other diode laser beam in an emission plane in a first direction, and a plurality of reflectors situated with respect to the diode lasers and configured to receive respective diode laser beams and to reflect the respective diode laser beams substantially parallel and out of the emission plane at a small angle therewith in a second direction such that the reflected diode laser beams are in a stacked configuration.

Abstract: A laser marking method and system, and laser marked object are disclosed. The method includes directing a pulsed laser beam towards an object such that an interface between an anodized layer and non-anodized substrate is in a mark zone of the pulsed laser beam, and scanning the pulsed laser beam across the object in a predetermined pattern to create a mark having an L value of less than 35 and a surface roughness that is substantially unchanged compared to adjacent unmarked areas. The system includes a fiber laser generating amplified pulses that are directed towards a galvo-scanner and focusing optic, while the object includes an anodized surface layer, an underlying non-anodized substrate, and a mark having an L value of less than 35 with substantially unchanged roughness features.

Abstract: A fiber termination assembly includes an optical fiber inserted into an optical ferrule disposed in an optical passageway of a heat conductive housing, the optical passageway providing an optical path aligned with the openings of the housing, the optical ferrule including a central bore concentrically disposed about the optical path and configured to receive a portion of a proximal end of the optical fiber therein, the optical ferrule and optical fiber secured in relation to the heat conductive housing with epoxy at a distal end of the optical ferrule, wherein the optical ferrule is transparent at a predetermined wavelength of light such that for light coupled into an input surface of the proximal end of the optical fiber at least a portion of the light propagating as cladding modes is stripped out of the optical fiber and transported to and dissipated in the heat conductive housing.

Abstract: A process measurement system for measuring a parameter of a work surface includes a light source configured to provide a material processing beam, an optical delivery system optically coupled to the light source and configured to homogenize and direct the material processing beam to the work surface, the optical delivery system including a process optic for optically coupling the material processing beam to the work surface in a predetermined way, the optical delivery system including a delivery waveguide having an output face optically coupled to the process optic, and an optical pyrometer in optical communication with the optical delivery system and configured to receive a pyrometer signal emitted from the work surface and coupled into said output face.

Abstract: A fiber termination assembly includes an optical fiber inserted into an optical ferrule disposed in an optical passageway of a heat conductive housing, the optical passageway providing an optical path aligned with the openings of the housing, the optical ferrule including a central bore concentrically disposed about the optical path and configured to receive a portion of a proximal end of the optical fiber therein, the optical ferrule and optical fiber secured in relation to the heat conductive housing with epoxy at a distal end of the optical ferrule, wherein the optical ferrule is transparent at a predetermined wavelength of light such that for light coupled into an input surface of the proximal end of the optical fiber at least a portion of the light propagating as cladding modes is stripped out of the optical fiber and transported to and dissipated in the heat conductive housing.

Abstract: Hybrid laser systems include fiber amplifiers using tapered waveguides and solid-state amplifiers. Typically, such systems represent a technically simple and low cost approach to high peak power pulsed laser systems. The tapered waveguides generally are provided with an active dopant such as a rare earth element that is pumped with one or more semiconductor lasers. The active waveguide taper is selected to taper from a single or few mode section to a multimode section. A seed beam in a fundamental mode is provided to a section of the waveguide taper associated with a smaller optical mode, and an amplified beam exits the waveguide taper at a section associated with a larger optical mode. The waveguide taper permits amplification to higher peak power values than comparable small mode area fibers. The fiber amplified beam is then directed to a solid state amplifier, such as a thin disk or rod-type laser amplifier.

Abstract: Hybrid laser systems include fiber amplifiers using tapered waveguides and solid-state amplifiers. Typically, such systems represent a technically simple and low cost approach to high peak power pulsed laser systems. The tapered waveguides generally are provided with an active dopant such as a rare earth element that is pumped with one or more semiconductor lasers. The active waveguide taper is selected to taper from a single or few mode section to a multimode section. A seed beam in a fundamental mode is provided to a section of the waveguide taper associated with a smaller optical mode, and an amplified beam exits the waveguide taper at a section associated with a larger optical mode. The waveguide taper permits amplification to higher peak power values than comparable small mode area fibers. The fiber amplified beam is then directed to a solid state amplifier, such as a thin disk or rod-type laser amplifier.

Abstract: A laser system can include an optical fiber having a spatial filter defined as a core extension coupled to or integrally formed in an optical fiber so as to reduce the coupling of optical radiation into a fiber cladding. Such a core extension can be formed by removing a length of the cladding from the optical fiber, leaving a portion of the core exposed at the end of the fiber. Alternatively, a core extension can be formed by coupling an end cap to the core of the optical fiber at a fiber end surface. By selecting a length of the core extension based on a beam divergence and beam diameter, radiation coupling into the fiber core can be reduced.